The Darkness Calls

by Michelle Roth

  At his stoic nod, she popped the lids off of their respective beers and delivered them on autopilot. She stood with them, chatting about nothing in particular for the next few minutes before Daniel asked, “Rough day?”

  “Jeez, is it that obvious?” Lilly asked, smiling in spite of herself.

  “Uranus just went into retrograde,” Daniel explained. “It’s got everyone in a tizzy.”

  Blinking at him in confusion, Lilly said, “Uh, I didn’t realize you were into all of that stuff.”

  Rob snorted and then joked, “He tries to talk to me about that weirdo shit, but I don’t get it. Don’t get him started, Lilly.”

  Daniel rolled his eyes and said, “I own a metaphysical bookstore. My sister and I specialize in astrology, tarot, and palm reading. Don’t listen to Rob. He’s the type of guy that requires empirical evidence.”

  Lilly snickered and said, “I think I’m that type too, honestly.”

  Daniel studied her and asked, “Ever had your palm read?”

  “Nope,” she answered honestly.

  As he spoke, she looked up and saw that the group sitting in the back of the bar splitting a pitcher was running low. As she left, Daniel directed his attention toward Rob.

  After getting the go-ahead to refill the pitcher, she headed back up to the bar and watched Rob and Daniel continue to talk. Strange, she realized, that Daniel had been coming here since before she started and this was the first time they’d really spoken.

  When the pitcher was full, she brought it back to the table and checked in on the other couple that was there. They seemed enthralled with the hockey game and content to sip at their wine, so she moved back behind the bar just in time to catch the tail end of the conversation.

  “No gay shit, all right?”

  Daniel rolled his eyes and dryly said, “Though it absolutely breaks my heart, I think I can agree to those terms.”

  Lilly laughed and said, “Now I really wanna know what I missed.”

  Lips quirking, Rob said, “I agreed to let this weird fucker read my palm.”

  “We’ll start with your head line. It runs through there,” Daniel said, lightly touching the line. “The fact that it runs deep and long means you’re a clear thinker. The fact that it’s straight means you’re a realist. However, this little indentation here, the small circular one, suggests great emotional trauma.”

  Rob blinked at him and said, “You can tell all that from my hand?”

  “I can tell you more than that. The love line, all broken like this, signals emotional trauma,” Daniel moved on, obviously uncomfortable. “The life line signals that you’re filled with vitality. See these here? They’re extra life lines. They signal additional vitality.”

  “I’ll be damned,” Rob said quietly.

  “More yet,” Daniel said. “This line here is your fate line. Not everyone has it. What yours tells me is that you knew from an early age exactly what you wanted. Want me to go on?”

  Lilly watched as Rob shook his head and spoke. “My wife died last year from cancer. It’s strange that you’d be able to see all that in my hand.”

  “I’m very sorry to hear that, Rog. I had no idea. I didn’t mean to—”

  Rob said, “No, no. I was kind of being a dick about it. Serves me right. I don’t know about all that centigrade Venus shit you were talking about, but you convinced me on the palm reading.”

  “Uranus in retrograde.”

  “I told you, none of that gay shit,” Rob said, laughing at his own joke. “I gotta head out and feed my dog. Did you see anywhere in my hand that he shit in the living room, by the way?”

  Lilly snorted and passed him his bar bill, then wandered over to greet the large group that came in the bar. When she came back, she pulled the cash off the bar and gave Rob a wave. When she counted it, she raised her eyebrows. Nice tip.

  Throughout the rest of the evening, the bar stayed moderately busy. The crowd finally thinned out by eleven thirty. The wine-sipping couple and Daniel were the only ones left. He’d been telling her more about his shop. It sounded interesting, but not entirely her cup of tea.

  Finally, her curiosity got the best of her and she accepted a palm reading. Daniel held her hand in his and studied her palm. He’d keyed in on her head line first, telling her that the way it was so deep and straight meant she was a logical thinker.

  Oddly enough, he’d seen the trauma in her head line too. He didn’t expound on it, thankfully. She was still feeling a little raw and off-balance from her earlier thoughts. When he pointed to the series of crisscrosses on her palm, he told her that they indicated she’d be required to make a momentous life choice.

  As she leaned in to ask him what a particular line meant, the door to the bar opened. Lilly turned her head and saw that Talan had walked in. His eyes swept around the bar and then zeroed in to where her hand lay on Daniel’s.

  She drew her hand back and said, “Hello, sir.”

  He nodded and said, “When your shift is over, come to my office, please.”

  He turned and left before she even had a chance to agree. He hadn’t looked happy with her at all. Truthfully, she wasn’t all that happy with him either. This meeting would certainly be interesting.

  Daniel winced and said, “I hope I didn’t get you in trouble with the boss.”

  Frowning, Lilly admitted, “His annoyance was of a more personal nature, I think.”

  “Oh,” he commented, smiling. “So that’s the way the wind blows, huh?”

  Lilly wasn’t sure why she had shared that with Daniel. He seemed nice enough, but he was a virtual stranger. She nodded and said, “It’s sort of new.”

  “What I was saying, about Uranus being retrograde. Typically, everything is very extreme in these times. Either black or white. The best or worst of everything. It’s harder to find middle ground and balance. Strive for that, rather than going with your gut reactions.”

  She nodded. It was sound advice whether Uranus was doing whatever it was supposed to be doing anyway. Strive for balance. She could totally do that.

  Daniel said, “Now that I’ve gotten you in trouble, I’m going to head out. Let me know if you want me to talk to him. I’d be happy to explain.”

  “I’ll explain it to him. Don’t worry about it. It’s not like we were making out. Jesus,” Lilly said, her voice laced with annoyance.

  Daniel blinked at her for a moment and then laughed. Lilly put her hand to her mouth as she realized what she’d said. She really needed to work on her internal filter.

  “Maybe some other time,” Daniel said, smirking. “What’s the damage?”

  Flushing, she handed him the bill and then went to check on the wine drinkers. When they wanted to settle their tab, she knew she’d have a nice long stretch of study time ahead of her. She went back to the bar and rang both the couple and Daniel out.

  At two a.m, the doors finally closed. She counted her till, dropped it in the cash office, clocked out, and then rode the elevator up to the executive level. Technically she could have stayed clocked in for the meeting, but she somehow suspected this wasn’t going to be work-related.

  The receptionist, Gillian, was seated at her desk. Lilly approached and said, “Lilly Ferguson. I’m here to see Mr. McKenna.”

  Gillian smiled and said, “Hang on. Let me see if he’s available.”

  She pressed the intercom and said, “Ms. Ferguson is here.”

  “Send her back,” he replied. His words were curt. He sounded more than a little pissed off.

  Wincing, Gillian whispered, “Ouch, honey. Good luck.”

  Lilly gave a small laugh and said, “Thanks.”

  As she walked through the semi-darkened hallway, she started to recall the reason for her own anger. By the time she knocked on his office door, she was pretty in touch with her pissed-off side again. Boy, was he about to get an earful.

  Chapter Ten

  “Come in,” Talan said at the tap on his door. He stood and ran a hand through his hair
in frustration. He hated the angry vulnerability he was feeling right now. This, he decided, would not stand.

  Lilly walked through the door and closed it gently behind her before she asked, “Was there something you needed?”

  “Yes,” he said, trying to keep his voice level and calm. “I need to know what the hell was going on in the bar. Less than one day since you’ve been in my bed and you’re letting some random man hold your hand?”

  Mouth agape, she said, “It was a palm reading, Talan! The random man is one of my regular customers who owns a metaphysical shop. He read another one of my regular’s palm, and it looked interesting. You’d actually be kind of amazed what the lines on the palm can tell you about yourself.”

  Talan raised an eyebrow and asked, “You believe in that garbage?”

  “What he was able to tell the other guy about himself was pretty accurate,” Lilly said, shrugging. “I’m not sure if I believe in it, but it was interesting enough to try. Do you really think I’d try to pick someone up at work less than a day after I gave you my virginity?”

  Well, when she phrased it like that, it seemed a little silly. Somewhat mollified, he cleared his throat and said, “I don’t believe so. No.”

  “Then can I assume you’re done jumping to conclusions?”

  He suspected that she had a bit of a temper, but her anger was a little unexpected. Wisely, he nodded.

  “Good, because there’s something else I’d like to discuss with you.”

  “Oh?”

  “What’s this about a night manager position in the club?” she asked, her expression stony.

  She was angry with him about that, too, he realized. Confused, he asked, “It’s something that’s more suited to your ability and skill set. I thought you’d be pleased.”

  “I slept with you less than a day ago, then I get to work today and my boss is telling me I’m getting a promotion? Do you realize how it’s going to look?” she asked.

  Before he could speak, she said, “Let me clue you in. It’s going to look like I fucked you for a better job.”

  “Nobody would dare say that to you,” he argued, his voice elevated.

  “Nobody would dare say that to you, Talan. You’re the boss. I’m just some girl who fucked you with the hope of getting a better job. They would have no reason at all to respect me,” Lilly all but yelled.

  He raised his eyebrow and coolly said, “For someone who fucked me for a better job, you’d think you’d be a little more excited that it worked.”

  Lilly gaped at him and yelled, “You know damn well that wasn’t what last night was about!”

  “We both know that wasn’t what this was about! What the hell does it matter what anybody else thinks,” he fired back, his voice rising despite his attempts to keep calm.

  “Perception is hugely important. People don’t work well for those they don’t respect. You don’t worry about that shit because everyone’s afraid of you. I don’t have that luxury. I’m always going to be the girl who got the job because she was fucking the boss,” Lilly yelled. “Ya know what? This. This right here…what’s happening right now? This is the exact reason I hesitated to go out to dinner with you.”

  He winced at her tone and tried to explain his thought process. “When I saw how much experience you had, how talented and knowledgeable you are, it made sense to put you in a position where your skill set could be put to better use. I’m not going to deny that when I first looked at your resume it was because I was interested in you personally. Don’t think the job opportunity is about anything other than your skill, though. I’m a businessman, Lilly. I don’t think with my dick.” It had been a crude way to put it, but right now he wasn’t feeling very gentlemanly.

  “Fair enough. I see your point,” she conceded. Her temper seemed to drop to a slow simmer when she said, “If I hadn’t been mugged in your parking lot, you wouldn’t have any idea who I was. I think we can both agree on that, right?”

  He knew he was walking right into a minefield, but he nodded.

  “You see my point, then. It’s an unfair advantage. I can’t take that kind of promotion while we’re together. It wouldn’t look right, nor would it feel right. If we keep seeing each other, people will put two and two together. I’d really rather not look like a whore, if at all possible,” she said.

  “What do you mean, if we keep seeing each other?” he asked, his heart in his throat.

  “You tell me. You’re the one that called me into your office like I was some kind of wayward employee, even though it was clearly a personal matter for you. Are you going to be able to keep things separate? This won’t work otherwise.”

  He hadn’t felt this level of embarrassment since his mother had scolded him as a child. Everything she said was absolutely correct. He rubbed a hand over his hair again, agitated. “It was a knee-jerk reaction, Lilly. I apologize. I’ll do my best to see that it doesn’t happen again.”

  “Thank you.”

  He smiled wryly and asked, “So, if I’m hearing you correctly, that’s a no on the promotion?”

  “If I want a promotion, I’ll apply like everyone else does. I don’t, though. Not until I’m done with school. I like the fact that I can balance my schoolwork. It’s low stress. It pays my bills adequately. I’m where I need to be. I appreciate your concern, though,” she said softly.

  “Are we okay now?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure. You’re the one that called me into your office. Are we?”

  It was lowering to admit, but he said, “I saw red. I know we talked about it last night, but I didn’t like his hands on you, Lilly.”

  “It was a palm reading,” she repeated. “By the way, he was concerned I was going to get into trouble. He offered to talk to you on my behalf.”

  “That’s unnecessary. I believe you,” Talan admitted. “It’s been a long time since I’ve felt much of anything. I’ve never felt anything like this. It’s likely that I’ll continue to bungle things. I need you to be patient with me. I’m working this out as I go along.”

  Lilly moved toward him and said, “I can’t let you steamroll me, personally or professionally. Please, next time talk to me about it instead of issuing a managerial edict. I don’t necessarily need you to change your feelings, just your delivery.”

  He looked down at her face, so earnest and hopeful, and said, “I can do that. Now, come here, please?”

  She stepped into his arms and laid her head on his chest. When she wrapped her arms around him, he felt the tension leave both of their bodies.

  “Mm,” Lilly said as she leaned against his body. “This is nice.”

  “It is,” he agreed, steering them toward the overstuffed couch.

  As he settled and then pulled her into his lap, she said, “Thank you for the flowers. They were beautiful.”

  “You’re beautiful.”

  In answer, she pressed her mouth to his, nipping at his lower lip. With a soft groan he opened his mouth under hers, allowing her tongue to thoroughly explore his mouth. Even in her work slacks and polo shirt, she was irresistible.

  Just as his hand coasted up her body to cup her breast, his phone buzzed. Lilly froze, made a displeased sound, and then shifted off of his lap. Talan strode back to the desk, pressed the button, and said, “Yes, Gillian?”

  A moment later, she said, “Lachlan is here. I informed him that you were in a meeting but…sir, he’s glaring at me and pacing.”

  “Send him back, Gillian. I’m just about through with my meeting.”

  “Right away, sir,” she responded, sounding relieved.

  When Lilly started to head for the door, he said, “Wait. Don’t go just yet. I’d like you to meet him.”

  He watched as she chewed on her lip nervously. He stepped over to her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and then said, “I wish we had more time tonight, but I doubt we do. When are you off next?”

  “Day after tomorrow,” she said after a pause.

  He let his hand drift u
p to her cheek, cupping it. He was pleased when she leaned into his palm. “Stay with me tomorrow night?” he asked.

  “I’d love to,” she said.

  Before he could say anything else, the door opened and Lachlan strode through. He took in the scene, an unrepentant smile on his face. “Och,” he said. “Sorry for interrupting.”

  Lilly raised her eyebrows as if to say, “Holy crap. You weren’t kidding about the accent!”

  Talan slowly dropped his hand as she turned to face Lachlan.

  “Lilly Ferguson,” she said, extending her hand out.

  Lachlan closed the space between them and said, “Lachlan MacDonald. Pleased to meet you, lass.”

  “Likewise,” she said smiling.

  “So you’re the one with the crap taste in Scotch? With a good Scottish name like that, I’d expect better. ”

  “Hey now,” she said sharply. “Not everyone can afford a seventy-dollar glass of Scotch. There’s gotta be something for the little people. Besides, there are plenty of middle-shelf choices that are completely palatable.”

  “I typically drink Ben Nevis 45 Year. Though I highly doubt there’s anything middle-shelf that would compare…what would you suggest?” Lachlan asked, a smirk on his face.

  “There are only a hundred or so bottles of that in the world. I suggest you drink slowly,” she said, grinning.

  Talan bit back a chuckle as Lachlan narrowed his eyes and asked, “I’ve got thirty-eight of them, but what do I drink when they run dry, lass?”

  “Will you actually try it if I make a suggestion?” Lilly asked, the annoyance slipping off her face too quickly for Talan’s liking.

  She was up to something, Talan realized. She’d had that same look on her face right before she tried to give him Molson.

  “Aye. I will,” Lachlan agreed, walking right into her trap.

  Finally she said, “Hmm. Hints of citrus, peach, oak, and honey. Chocolatey nose. You know what you might like? Clan MacGregor.”

  “I’ll keep him honest, little one. He’ll drink every drop,” Talan said, laughing at the outraged look on Lachlan’s face.